Retractable lubricant filling device



Nov. 29, 1960 A. c. IEISENHART ET AL 2, 6 88 RETRACTABLE LUBRICANT FILLING DEVICE Filed Sept. 50, 1957 1 AfiL/N (I ESE/VHRRG ALBERT 62498 IA/VEA/TQES ,5, f wmw 2,962,188 Patented Nov. 29, 1

RETRACTABLE LUBRICANT FILLING DEVICE Arlin C. Eisenhart, Fullerton, and Albert J. Garey, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to U. S. Electrical Motors, Inc., Los Angeles, Calilrl, a corporation of California Filed Sept. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 687,100

7 Claims. (Cl. 220-86) This invention relates to a lubrication apparatus for bearings and the like, and particularly to a filling device for a lubricant reservoir.

In a vertical electric motor, for example, fittings for facilitating the replenishing of lubricant are desirably large in order to expedite such operations. The fittings usually project a fair distant from the motor casing itself.

They are often broken off when the machine is moved,

and they form obstructions when the machine is in place. Even if the fitting is relatively large, pouring lubricant into the opening of the fitting is none too easy or eflicient without a funnel or other device. It is likely that the lubricant well will overflow at the fitting even before the well is filled, due to the small size of the fitting opening. Especially if a funnel is used, overflowing is almost a certainty when the well is filled. Oil spilled about creates a safety hazard, and oil, when spilled over the motor casing, serves to adhere dust and dirt to the of this character that incorporates an externally visible level gauge. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to provide a separate gauge which would complicate the casing structure and the machining thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel filling device incorporating a level gauge in which the gauge may be cleaned without disassembling the filling device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple deflector which facilitates reading of the level gauge and which can be readily removed for facilitating cleaning thereof and cleaning of the inside of the gauge itself.

. Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which can be operated by hand so that wrenches or other tools, usually required to remove plugs from customary fittings, are not required.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, there is shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of this invention is best defined by the appended claims.

elongate bushing or sleeve 30.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a vertical motor, for example, incorporating the present invention; 7

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary axial sectional view showing the lubrication system for the upper bearings of the motor, the plane of the section corresponding to that indicated by line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the plane indicated by line 3--3 of Fig. 2; and a Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus and taken along the plane indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

By way of example, there is illustrated a vertical electrical motor 10 rotating a shaft 11 for a submerged well pump or the like. The motor illustrated is of the hollow shaft type that facilitates installation or repair of components of the system. Thus, the pump shaft 11 telescopes upwardly through a hollow shaft 12 upon which the rotor 13 is mounted. The ends of the shafts 11 and 12 are accessible above the remaining structure. These ends are coupled by the aid of upper and lower coupling members 14 and 15.

The lower coupling member 15, whichisconnected to the hollow shaft, rests upon the inner races of a stacked thrust ballbearing structure 16. The bearing structure 16 is received in a cup 17 formed on a transverse wall-or spider 18. The transverse wall 18 is formed as an integral part of a top bracket 19 which cooperates with'a casing 20 to enclose the motor. p

The bracket 19 forms a lubricant reservoir 21 on one side of the cup 17. One or more apertures 22 at the base of the cup 17 transmit lubricant to the bearing structure 16 therein. A non-rotary sleeve 23, telescoping upwardly from the wall 18 within the bearing structure 16 and into the coupling member 15 about the shafts, prevents passage of lubricant downwardly along the shafts. A bell cover 24 fits upon the upper bracket 19.

The outer wall .of the bracket 19, which forms the lubricant reservoir 21, has a circular opening 25, by the aid of which lubricant is admitted. A drain opening 26,

normally closed by a plug 27, is provided beneath the opening 25 and adjacent the lower portion of the upper bracket 19.

Atrough 28 is mounted at the bracket opening 25 and normally projects into the lubricant reservoir 21; The trough 28 may be pulled out, as illustrated in the phantom-line position of Fig. 2, whereby lubricant may be received in the trough and passed to'the reservoir 21. The trough 28 is formed by a generally tubular-element slotted intermediate its length along one side, as at 29.

The trough 28 is guided for movement within an The outer end of the bushing 30 is press-fitted at the bracket opening 25, a flange 31 formed at the outer end of the bushing abutting the edges about the opening 25. The trough 2Sv is slidable within the bushing 30 between retracted position, illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2, and projected operative position as illustrated in phantom lines in Fig. 2.

The left-hand end of the trough 28 is closed by a transparent window 32. A bell flange 33 provides an enlarged end 35 of the trough opening 34. A shoulder 36, formed thereby, provides a seat against which the transparent window 32 is placed. The window 32 may be press-fitted, cemented or otherwise secured to the bell flange 33. r

The opposite or inner end of the trough 28 is open so that communication is provided between the trough and the reservoir 21. The lubricant in the trough 28 passes inwardly to the lubricant reservoir 21.

The intended level of lubricant in the reservoir lies slightly beneath the level of the slot 29 so that-the transparent window 32 can be used eifectively as a level "gauge. For this purpose, as shown in Fig. 4, the window 32 carries indication markings 37 and 38 'corre- "between the disk 55 and the window 32, the disk 55 has peripheral clearance with the opening 34, and it is held centrally of the opening 34 in spaced relationship to the window 32. For this purpose, a series of tabs or cars 56 (see also Fig. 4), integrally formed on the disk, areprovided. The tabs or ears 56 extend radially beyond the disk 55 and are bent in a common transverse direction. The ears '56 frictionally engage the opening 34 and hold the disk 55 in position. The ears 56 determine a minimum spacing between the disk 55 and the window '32.

'In order to remove the reflector disk 55, a handle 57 is provided at the central area thereof. When the drawer or trough 26 is pulled outwardly, the handle 57 may be grasped and the disk pulled rearwardly until it registers with the slot 29. By asimple manipulation, the disk 55 is removed. Therear surface of the window 32 as well as the reflector disk 55 may be then cleaned. The filling trough conveniently makes the interior of the window 32 accessible for cleaning.

Since lubricant is intended to extend within the trough when the reservoir is full, provisions must be made to ensure against leakage of lubricant outwardly of the bracket 19 between the sides and bottom of the trough "and the interior surface of the bushing or guide 30 when the trough is pulled out. For this purpose, an O'-ring 39 isprovided near the inner end of the trough '28. The circular portion of the trough 28, located inwardly beyond the end 29a ofthe slot 29, provides -an annular groove 40 inwhich the O-ring 39 is accommodated. The O-ring 39 is located near the inner end of the bushing 30 whenthe trough is retracted within the reservoir 21 and, hence, is operative throughout a substantial range of outward movement of the trough 28.

In order to maintain the slot 29 uppermost, a pair of fiat head screws 41 and 42 are provided (see also Fig. 3). The screws 41 and 42 are mounted in transversely or radially extending, angularly spaced threaded openings 43 and 44 at the outer flange 31 of the bushing 30. Thescrews '41 and 42 project inwardly of the internal surface of the bushing 30 and cooperate with the respective sides 29b and 29c of the slot 29. Since the sides of the slot '29 form the guided elements, a

- supplemental guide on the trough 28 is not required.

Furthermore, the screws 41 and 42 extend above the trough and, 'hence, require no sealing means. The angular spacing of the screws 41 and 42 corresponds 1precisely "to-the angular spacing of the sides of the slot 29.

The screws '41 and 42 furthermore form a limit to outward movement of the trough 28 so that inadvertent detachment of the trough 28 is avoided. The screws 41 and 42 cooperate with the end wall 29a of the slot 29 for this purpose.

The trough 28 is held in retracted position within .the reservoir 21 by the aid of a large clamp .nut 45 knurled, as at 50, fortsuitable hand manipulation. The clamp nut 45 is journaled upon the end flange 33 of the trough 28 by the aid of a snap ring47. The snap .ring :engages both .an internal groove 49 of the nut -=45-and anexternal groove on the trough bell flange 33.

The nut has interior threads 46 cooperable withcorresponding threadsprovided upon the bushing flange 31. The Hat head screws 41 and 42 project inwardly of the outersurface of the bushing flange '31 and, accordingly,

4 do not interfere with appropriate threaded cooperation of the clamp nut 45.

The clamp nut 45 draws the rearwardly facing shoulder 51 formed by the bell flange 33 against the end surface of the bushing flange 31. A sealing gasket 52 is interposed between these surfaces to prevent lubricant, possibly splashing about in thetrough 28 during operation, from passing outwardly of the reservoir.

Fig. 1 illustrates a similar filling device 60 for a lubricant reservoir provided for lower bearings of the motor structure.

In filling the reservoir 21, lubricant is poured into the trough 28 until the level of the maximum indication marking 37 is reached. At this point, the level of lubricant will be substantially slightly beneath the upper portions of the side edges of the slot 29, as indicated for example in Fig. 3. As the trough is reinserted into the reservoir 21, the volume of the reservoir diminishes slightly and the level accordingly rises. The indication marking 37 is so placed relative to the sides of the slot 29 such as to en sure against spillage of lubricant over the edges of'the slot 29 during the course of inward projection of the trough.

The sides 29b and 29c of the trough slot 29 extend generally radially or in any other manner such that the iner edges 29d formed by the slot sides are lower than the outer edges 29e formed thereby. Conveniently, the lower edges 29d may be used as a reference for filling purposes instead of the marking 37, providing, of course, the wall section is sufficiently large. For this purpose, the marking 37 is placed at the same level as the trough edges 29d.

The inventors claim:

1. For use at a transverse filling-opening for alubricant reservoir: a tubular guide having a peripherally threaded flange at one end adapted to abut about the outer edges of the filling opening when the guide projects inwardly of the opening; a generally tubular member slidable in the guide and having a slot along one side terminating short of one end of the member; a pair of screws mounted by and projecting inwardly of the guide flange and engaging the sides of the slot for determining an angular orientation of the slot and for limiting outward movement of the member; an O-ring carried by the said end of the member and engaging the guide; a clamp nut journaled to the other end of the member and cooperable with the threads of said flange for maintaining the member in inwardly tele' scoped relationship with respect to said guide; and means closing the other end of said member.

2. For use at a transverse filling opening for a lubricant reservoir: a tubular guide having a peripherally threaded flange at one end adapted to abut about the outer edges of the filling opening when the guide projects inwardly of the opening; a generally tubular member slidable in the guide and having a slot along one side terminating short of one end of the member, the sides of the slot extending in a direction substantially radially of the member to form a pair of outer edges and a pair of inner edges; a pair of screws mounted by and projecting inwardly of the guide flange and engaging the sides of the slot for determining an angular orientation of the slot and for limiting outward movement of the member; an O-ring carried by the said end of the member and engaging the guide; a clamp nut journaled to the other end of the member and cooperable with the threads of said flange for maintaining the member in inwardly telescoped relationship with respect to said guide; and a transparent closure for the other end of the member, and having indication markings thereon.

3. A hearing housing comprising, a lubricant well adapted to contain a quantity of liquid for lubricating the bearing and having a side wall, said side wall having an aperture located at least partially below the normal level of said lubricating liquid, said side wall including an elongate tubular bushing member defining the perimeterof said aperture and projecting into said well interiorly of said side wall into an area normally containing said lubricating liquid, an elongate tubular trough member mounted in said bushing member and telescopically slidable therein between a retracted position projecting into said well interiorly of said side wall and an extended position projecting outside said well exteriorly of said side wall, and sealing means mounted on one of said members for sliding engagement along the adjacent tubular surface of the other of said members to prevent passage of lubricant between said members, said trough member having a filling opening in the upper portion of the tubular wall thereof and an opening in its interior end communieating said filling opening with the interior of said well, the exterior end of said trough member being closed, whereby lubricant may be added to the well through said filling opening with said trough member in extended posi-.' tion, and the filling opening closed by moving said trough member to retracted position.

4. A bearing housing as set forth in claim 3, and further including means having a fixed orientation with respect to said bushing member and engaging said trough member for guiding said trough member in its sliding movement relative to said bushing and preventing angular movement of said trough member relative to said bushing member.

5. A hearing housing as set forth in claim 3, wherein said exterior end of said trough member includes a transparent window for observing the level of lubricant in the well.

6. A hearing housing as set forth in claim 3, and fur ther including means for locking said trough member in retracted position.

7. A hearing housing comprising, a lubricant well adapted to contain a quantity of liquid for lubricating the bearing and having a side wall, said side wall having an aperture located at least partially below the normal level of said lubricating liquid, said side wall including a bushing member defining the perimeter of said aperture, an elongate trough member mounted in said bushing member and axially slidable therein between a retracted position projecting into said well interiorly of said side wall and an extended position projecting outside said well exteriorly of said side wall, sealing means mounted on one of said members for sliding engagement along the adjacent surface of the other of said members to prevent passage of lubricant between said members, said trough memher having a filling opening in the upper portion of the side wall thereof and an opening in its interior end communicating said filling Opening with the interior of said well, the exterior end of said trough member being closed, and means having a fixed orientation with respect to said bushing member and engaging said trough member for guiding said trough member in its sliding movement relative to said bushing member and preventing angular movement of said trough member relative to said bushing member, whereby lubricant may be added to the well through said filling opening with said trough member in extended position, and the filling opening closed by moving said trough member to retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 171,269 Cross Dec. 21, 1875 1,232,737 Vecelius July 10, 1917 1,3 60,406 Hughes et a1 Nov. 30, 1920 2,331,917 Kocher Oct. 19, 1943 2,432,205 Morton Dec. 9, 1947 2,466,075 Bentley et al. Apr. 5, 1949 2,704,454 Martin Mar. 22, 1955 2,801,892 Lombard Aug. 6, 1957 

